Ideas for Black Tie Event

[jtruscott]

We are doing a black tie Gala for a Health System - looking for THEME ideas that others may have come across. Last two years we did, 2004 -- A South Jersey Odyssey 2003 - Light Up The Night for a Brighter Future

[Angela Taylor]

I, too, am looking for "new" suggestions. I am chairing a very large fundraiser in 2006. We are thinking of a, "phantom of the opera" theme or "saints and sinners" with masks. Have any suggestions you would like to recommend.

[Regina]

We are doing a venetian themed masquerade - black tie optional, women in long gowns - with the elegant feathered masquerade masks that flip up on headbands for the women. The front of the event will have "faux" gondolas with a bridge and a trumpeter to announce guests.

[Angela Taylor]

How about Casablanca

[Krista]

I am chairman for a hospital fundraiser that usually has around 500 people in attendance. In the last 3 years we have used Global Mystic - highlighting 4 areas of the world and tied in the theme with food, interactive dancers and graphic design, raffle prize was a cruise. We had a Champagne Safari, with African dancers and a raffle prize of a Safari to Africa. This year we had a Masquerade Ball, peacock feathers and elegant masks incorporated in the floral centerpieces. Interactive dangers in elegant, formal masquerade attire with a dance number. We have grown our event every year and people are asking when and where early.

[Regina]

We used an upscale circus theme "Cirque de l'Etoile" or Circus of the Star - complete with stilt walkers, jack in the boxes at the front door, the normal catered food but a separate "fun tent" with popcorn, cotton candy, hotdogs, etc. We had a caricature artist also that came up from New Orleans. The arrangements were balloons - complete with a small pirouge (canoe like boat) in the pool with lights underneath it and balloons inside. The inspiration was the gala in athe movie Two Weeks Notice. We had whimsical party favors - long clown ties, clown noses, head boppers, etc. - for about 1/4 of the 500 people so there was a whimsical feel to the night. We had a raffle for three trips that you could choose A B or C when you bought the ticket. 7 day Cruise, LSU Football Package, and Trip to a Resort in Costa Rica (no air fare). It was a HUGE success and we had more ticket sales to the patron party from . We sold over 200 raffle tickets at the party alone.